Sara Duterte on her appearance at impeachment trial: No summons yet

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte on Friday said that she is yet to be formally summoned by the Senate impeachment court, requiring her to personally attend her trial.

Duterte said her appearance ‘depends’ as there are no formal summons yet. 

Her remarks were made after she was informed regarding the House prosecutor’s intent to call her to testify at her own impeachment trial.

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READ: Prosecutors opt to drop 15 witnesses, want to grill VP Duterte instead

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“Well, depende wala pa namang pagpapatawag sa akin,” she told reporters at Davao City.

(“Well, it depends; I haven’t been summoned yet,”)

She emphasized that the impeachment proceeding is a legal process. Thus, her lawyer’s presence at the trial already constitutes her participation and attendance.

“At yun sabi ko nga, ang impeachment ay isang legal na process at yung pagpunta ng aking mga abogado doon ay yun yung aking appearance at participation doon sa proseso na yan,”

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(“And as I said, impeachment is a legal process, and the attendance of my lawyers there constitutes my appearance and participation in that process,”)

The House prosecutors previously manifested their intent to call Duterte to testify after they dropped their remaining 15 witnesses on the alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds.

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The prosecution said that they have not subpoenaed Duterte yet as they intend to call her after presenting evidence on all four impeachment articles. 

The vice president’s testimony would be material to all allegations– grave threats, misuse and misappropriation of confidential funds, unexplained wealth and bribery, Private prosecutor Lorna Kapunan said. /mr